News

East Lancs man jailed after assaulting pensioners in dog row

A DRUNK who attacked two pensioners when a dispute over his dog boiled over into 'mindless violence' has been jailed for eight months.

Gary Samuels' pet had got out and Marilyn Williams had found and secured the animal.

But, Samuels lost his temper after he believed she had been 'strangling' it with a washing line. Samuels confronted Ms Williams, 60, spat at her, pushed her and fought with her.

The defendant then turned his attentions on totally innocent bystander Geoffrey Kemp, now 67, pushed him over in the street, stamped on him and kicked him and put him in hospital with head injuries, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Samuels, 50, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and assault by beating, last September 27. The defendant, of Ellesmere Avenue, Colne, had no previous convictions.

Mr Kemp suffered severe bruising to his head, a five centimetre swelling in the skull region and abrasions, but did not have any fractures or haemorrhaging. Samuels was arrested and interviewed. Mercedeh Jabbari, prosecuting, said: “The incident as a whole lasted about an hour-and-a-half.

“Children were playing in the street and other people were walking by and clearly this mindless act of violence appears to have been done in their presence."

Richard Taylor, for Samuels, said a witness stated his dog was being strangled with a washing line. The defendant lost his temper and, unfortunately, as a result, people were injured.

Sentencing, Judge Simon Newell said he had to pass a custodial sentence.

He told Samuels: “This was an argument lasting up to one-and-a half hours, in public, in the middle of the day, when ordinary people and children were about."